Vishnu Sahasranamam [Part 1 of 5]

[Guest guest]

VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM [Part 1 of 5]

 

In Chapter 27 of Sri Sai SatCharita, Baba says to Shama - " Oh Shama,

this book [containing Vishnu Sahasranama] is very valuable and

efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once, I suffered

intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger.

At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and then,

Shama, what a relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came

down and saved Me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by

little, read daily one name at least and it will do you good. "

The Vishnu Sahasranama, or the 1008 names of the Lord Vishnu appears

in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata and are articulated by

Bhishma, as he lay on the bed of arrows and awaiting his death, in

response to Yudhishtira's question as to what is the easiest and best

means by which mankind can attain lasting happiness, peace of mind,

relief from all bondage and sorrows and salvation. Bhishma gave the

answer and imparted The Vishnu Sahasranama in the presence of Lord

Krishna himself. The thousand names were strung together by Sage

Vedavyasa. Vishnusahasranama and Bhagawat Geeta are integral part of

Mahabharata. Sri Adi Sankaracharya was the first to write a

commentary on Vishnusahasranama. Each name in The Vishnu Sahasranama

highlights a particular excellence of the Lord.

The Vishnu Sahasranama, is one of the most revered sacred chants in

Hinduism and a powerful, popular medium of worship, that shows the

goal and the path to achieve the ultimate destiny, salvation and

liberation from earthly shackles. Chanting of The Vishnu Sahasranama

is a solution for getting rid of human problems. It,

Cleanses one's mind from all evil thoughts

Provides benefits like Firmness of mind, good memory, happiness of

the self (inner happiness), and freedom from anger, jealousy, and

greed

Mitigates misery, sorrow and grief

" The chanting of the Nama or Divine name has an important place in

the disciplines advocated by the Bhakthi Tradition. For centuries our

learned forefathers, Acharyas, Seers etc, had passed the bliss and

the Mental Peace so obtained on generation after generation.

In our present-day fast life, there is shortage of time in performing

all day-to-day rituals, which have been ordained to enhance our well

being, and quality of life. Hence the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam

at a stretch has become difficult. Devotees and people hard pressed

with time would be happy to hear that the same benefits are available

even by chanting individual names of the thousand and eight names.

Listening to Vishnu Sahasranama, from cassettes, CDs, etc., recited

especial by one of the greatest Indian musicians – the late MS

Subbulakshmi – in most of the households of Indians, elevates our

souls spiritually. While listening it most of the people do not

understand the meaning thereof, still it gives so much of peace of

mind. If the meaning of each Nama is understood, then the blissful

state of mind will be much more and this aims for that purpose.

VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM

Om vishvam vishnur-vashatkaro bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh

Bhutakrud bhutabhrud bhavo bhutatma bhuta-bhavanah..1

 

 

 

Vishvam: The all or the Universe.

Vishnur: He who pervades every thing.

Vashatkara: For whom the sacrificial versus are uttered in the yagyas.

Bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhuh: The one who is the master and beyond the

past, present and the future.

Bhutakrud: The creator and destroyer of all existences in the

universe.

Bhutabhrud: One who supports or sustains or governs the universe.

Bhava: Pure existence.

Bhutatma: The essence of all beings.

Bhuta-bhavanah: He who originates and develops all Elements.

 

 

Putatma paramatma cha muktanam parama gatih

Avyayah purusha sakshi kshetrajno~kshara eva cha..2

 

Putatma: One whose nature is purity/who is purity

Paramatma cha: He who is the supreme one and the Atman.

Muktanam parama gatih: The highest goal of the liberated ones.

Avyayah: One for whom there is no decay.

Purusha: One who abides in the body or pura.

Sakshi: One who witnesses everything

Kshetrajno: The knower of the field or body.

Akshara eva cha: He who is without destruction

 

Yogo yogavidam neta pradhana-purushesvarah

Narasimha-vapu shriman kesavah purushottamah ..3

 

Yogo: One attainable through Yoga.

Yogavidam neta: The master of those who are established in the above-

mentioned Yoga.

Pradhana-purushesvarah: The master of pradhana or Prakruti and

Purusha or Jiva.

Narasimha-vapu: One in whom the bodies of a man and a lion are

combined.

Shirman: One on whose chest the goddess Shri always dwells.

Kesavah: One whose Kesa or locks are beautiful

Purushottamah: The greatest among all Purushas

style= " mso-special-character: line-break " >

Sarvah sarvah sivah sthanur-bhutadir-nidhir-avyayah

Sambhavo bhavano bharta prabhavah prabhur-isvarah ..4

 

Sarvah: The omniscient source of all existence.

Sarvah: Destroyer.

Sivah: One pure.

Sthanur: One who is steady, immovable and changeless.

Bhutadir: Source of all elements or existing things.

Avyayah nidhir: The changeless and indestructible Being in whom the

whole universe becomes merged and remains in seminal condition at the

time of Pralaya or cosmic dissolution.

Sambhavo: One born out of His own will as incarnation.

Bhavano: One who generates the fruits or Karmas of all Jivas for them

to enjoy.

Bharta: One who supports the universe as its substratum.

Prabhavah: One from whom all the great elements have their birth. Or

one who has exalted births as incarnations.

Prabhur: One who is an adept in all rites.

Ishvarah: One who has unlimited lordliness or power over all things.

 

Svayambhuh sambhur-adityah pushkaraksho mahasvanah

Anandi-nidhano dhata vidhata dhaturuttamah ..5

 

Svayambhuh: One who exists by Himself, uncaused by any other.

Sambhur: One who bestows happiness on devotees.

Adityah: The golden-hued person in the sun's orb. Pushkaraksho: One

who has eyes resembling the petals of Pushkara or lotus.

Mahasvanah: One from whom comes the great sound – the Veda. Anandi-

nidhano: The one existence that has neither birth nor death.

Dhata: One who is the support of the universe.

Vidhata: He who generates Karmas and their fruits.

Dhaturuttamah: The ultimate support of every thing.

 

Aprameyo hrishikesah padma-nabho~mara-prabhuh

Visvakarma manustvashta sthavishtah sthaviro-dhruvah ..6

 

Aprameyo: One who is not measurable or understandable by any of the

accepted means of knowledge like sense, perception, inference etc.

Hrishikesah: The master of the senses or He under whose control the

senses subsist.

Padma-nabho: He in whose navel (nabhi) the lotus (padma), the source

of the universe stands.

Amara-prabhuh: The master of Amaras or the deathless ones, i.e. the

Devas.

Visvakarma: He whose Karma (work) has resulted in all that exists

(Vishvam) or He whose power of creation is unique and wonderful.

Manu: He who thinks.

Stvashta: He who makes all beings shrunken (Tanukarana) at the time

of cosmic dissolution.

Sthavishtah: He who excels in everything in bulk or substantiality.

Sthaviro-dhruvah: Eternal One, being the most ancient. It is taken as

a single phrase, the name along with its qualification.

 

Agrahyah sasvatah krishno lohitakshah pratardanah

Prabhutas-trikakubdhama pavitram mangalam param ..7

 

Agrahyah: One who cannot be grasped by the organs or knowledge or

conceived by the mind.

Sasvatah: One who exists at all times.

Krishno: The existence-Knowledge-Bliss.

Lihitakshah: One whose eyes are tinged red.

Pratardanah: Destroyer of all at the time of cosmic dissolution.

Prabhutas: Great because of unique qualities like omnipotence,

omniscience etc.

Trikakubdhama: He who is the support (dharma) of the three regions

above, below and in the middle.

Pavitram: That which purifies everything.

Mangalam param: Supremely auspicious.

 

Isanah pranadah prano jyeshthah sreshthah prajapatih

Hiranyagarbho bhugarbho madhavo madhusudanah .. 8

 

Isanah: He who controls and regulates everything.

Pranadah: One who bestows or activates the Prana, the vital energy.

Prano: The Supreme Being.

Jyeshthah: The eldest of all; for there is nothing before Him.

Sreshthah: One deserving the highest praise.

Prajapatih: The master of all living beings, because He is Ishvara.

Hiranyagarbho: One who is Atman of even Brahma the creator.

Bhugarbho: One who has got the world within Himself.

Madhavo: The Consort of Ma or Mahalakshmi or one who is fit to be

known through Madhu-Vidya.

Madhusudanah: The destroyer of the demon Madhu.

 

Ishvaro vikrami dhanvi medhavi vikramah kramah

Anuttamo duradharsah krutajnah krutiratmavan ..9

 

Ishvara: The Omnipotent Being.

Vikrami: The courageous One.

Dhanvi: One armed with bow.

Medhavi: He who has great intelligence capable of grasping all texts.

Vikramah: He who crosses (Karmana) i.e. transcends samsara. Or one

who has Vih, bird i.e. Garuda as His mount.

Kramah: Vishnu is called Kramah, because He is the cause of Kramana

or crossing of the ocean of samsara by devotees, or because from Him

all Krama or manifestation of the universe, has taken place.

Anuttamo: He than whom there is none greater.

Duradharsah: One whom none (Asuras) can overcome.

Krutajnah: One who knows everything about what has been done (Kruta)

by Jivas. Also one who is pleased even with those who offer such

simple offerings as leaves, flowers, fruits and water.

Krutir: The word means what is achieved through all human efforts or

works.

Atmavan: One established in his own greatness i.e. requiring no other

support than Himself.

 

Suresah sharanam sharma vishvaretah prajabhavah

Ahah samvasaro vyalah pratyayah sarvadarshanah …10

 

Suresah: The lord of the Suras or Devas. It can also mean the

greatest of those who bestow good.

Saranam: One who removes the sorrows of those in distress.

Sharma: One who is of the nature of supreme bliss.

Vishvaretah: The seed of the universe.

Prajabhavah: He from whom all beings have originated.

Ahah: Luminous one.

Samvasaro: As Time is a from of Vishnu, He is called Samvasara or a

year.

Vyalah: Being ungraspable like a serpent, He is called Vyalah.

Pratyayah: One who is of the nature of Pratiti or Prajna

(consciousness)

Sarvadarshanah: One with eyes everywhere. As the Lord has assumed all

forms, the eye-sight of all beings is His.

 

 

Ajah sarveshvarah siddhah siddhih sarvadir acyutah

Vrushakapir ameyatma sarva-yoga-vinihshrutah …11

 

Ajah: One who has no birth.

Sarveshvarah: The Lord of all Lords or the supreme Lord.

Siddhah: One ever established in one's own nature. Siddhih: One who

is of the nature of Consciousness in all.

Sarvadih: One who is the first cause of all elements.

Achyutah: One who never lost and will never lose his inherent nature

and powers.

Vrushakapir: One who shwers all objects of desire.

Ameyatma: One whose form or nature cannot be measured and determined.

Sarva-yoga-vinihshrutah: One who stands aside completely from all

bondage.

 

Vasur vasumanah satyah samatma sammitah samah

Amoghah pundarikaksho vrusha-karma vrushakrutih …12

 

Vasur: One in whom all beings dwell and one who dwells in all beings.

Vasumanah: The term Vasu means wealth or riches. Here it indicates

greatness. So it means one possessed of a great mind i.e. a mind free

from attachments, anger and other evil qualities.

Satyah: One whose nature is Truth.

Samatma: One whose mind is Sama, without partiality or anger and thus

the same towards all beings.

Sammitah: This name and the previous (samatma) occurring together,

can be split in two ways – as samatma + sammitah and as samatma +

asammitah. Samah: One unpertubed at all times.

Amoghah: One whose worship will never go in vain, but will bear ample

fruits.

Pundarikaksho: One who has pervaded, i.e. is realized in, the lotus

of the heart. Or One whose eyes resemble the petals of a lotus.

Vrushakarma: One whose actions are according to vrushas i.e. Dharma.

Vrushakrutih: One who takes form for the sake of Vrushas or Dharma.

 

 

Rudro bahushira babhrur vishva-yonih shuchi sravah

Amrutah shashvata-sthanur vararoho maha-tapah …13

 

Rudro: One who makes all beings cry at the time of cosmic

dissolution.

Bahushira: One with innumerable heads.

Babhrur: One who governs the world.

Vishvayonih: One who is the cause of the world.

Shuchi sravah:: One whose names and glories are very holy and

purifying to be heard.

Amrutah: One who is deathless.

Shashvata-sthanur: One who is both eternal and firmly established,

unchanging.

Vararoho: He whose lap gives the highest blessings.

Mahatapah: The austerity connected with creation, which is of the

nature of knowledge is of great potency.

 

 

Sarvagah sarva-vid-bhanur vishvaksheno janardanah

Vedo vedavid avyango vedango vedavit kavih..14

 

 

Sarvagah: One who pervades everything, being of the nature of their

material cause.

Sarva-vid-bhanur: One who is omniscient and illumines everything.

Vishvaksheno: He before whom all Asura armies get scattered.

Janardanah: One who inflicts suffering on evil men.

Vedah: He who is of the form of the Veda.

Vedavid: One who knows the Veda and its meaning.

Avyango: One who is self-fulfilled by knowledge and other great

attributes and is free from every defect.

Vedango: He to whom the Vedas stand as organs.

Vedavit: One who knows all the Vedas.

Kavih: One who sees everything.

 

 

Lokadhyakshah suradhyaksho dharmadhyakshah krutakrutah

Chaturatma chaturvyuhas chaturdamstras chatur-bhujah ..15

 

 

Lokadhyakshah: He who witnesses the whole universe.

Suradhyaksho: One who is the overlord of the protecting Divinities of

all regions.

Dharmadhyakshah: One who directly sees the merits (Dharma) and

demerits (Adharma) of beings by bestwing their due rewards on all

beings.

Krutakrutah: One who is an effect in the form of the worlds and also

a non-effect as their cause.

Chaturatma: One who for the sake of creation, sustentation and

dissolution assumes forms.

Chaturvyuhas: One who adopts a fourfold manifestation.

Chaturdamstras: One with four fangs in His Incarnation as Nisimha.

Chaturbhujah: One with four arms.

 

 

Bhrajishnur-bhojanam bhokta sahishnur jagad-adhijah

Anagho vijayo jeta vishva-yonih punar-vasuh ..16

 

 

Bhrajishnur: One who is pure luminosity.

Bhojanam: Prakruti or Maya is called Bhojanam or what is enjoyed by

the Lord.

Bhokta: As he, purusha, enjoys the prakruti, He is called the enjoyer

or Bhokta.

Sahishnur: As He suppresses Asuras like Kiranyaksha, He is Sahishnu.

Jagad-adhijah: One who manifested as Hiranyagarbha by Himself at the

beginning of creation.

Anagho: The sinless one.

Vijayo: One who has mastery over the whole universe by virtue of his

six special excellences like omnipotence, omniscience etc. known as

Bhagas.

Jeta: One who is naturally victorious over beings, i.e. superior to

all beings.

Vishva-yonih: The source of the universe.

Punar-vasuh: One who dwells again and again in the bodies as the

Jivas.

 

 

Upendro vamanah pramshur amoghah suchir urjitah

Atindrah samgrahah sargo dhrutatma niyamo yamah ..17

 

 

Upendro: One born as the younger brother of Indra.

Vamanah: One who, in the form of Vamana (dwarf), went begging to

Bali.

Pramshur: One of great height.

Amoghah: One whose acts do not go in vain.

Suchir: One who purifies those who adore and praise Him.

Urjitah: One of infinite strength.

Atindrah: One who is superior to Indra by His inherent attributes

like omnipotence, omniscience etc.

Samgrahah: One who is of the subtle form of the universe to be

created.

Dhrutatma: One who is ever in His inherent form or nature, without

the transformation involved in birth and death.

Niyamo: One who appoints His creatures in particular stations.

Yamah: One who regulates all, remaining within them.

 

 

Vedyo vaidyah sada-yogi viraha madhavo madhuh

Atindriyo mahamayo mahotsaho mahabalah ..18

 

 

Vedyo: One who has to be known by those who aspire for Mokshas.

Vaidhyah: One who knows all Vidyas or branches of knowledge.

Sada-yogi: One who is ever experienceble, being ever existent.

Viraha: One who destroys heroic Asuras for the protection of Dharma.

Madhavo: One who is the Lord or Master of Ma or knowledge.

Madhuh: Honey, because the Lord gives joy, just like honey.

Atindriyo: One who is not knowable by the senses.

Mahamayo: One who can cause illusion even over other great

illusionists.

Mahotsaho: One who is ever busy in the work of creation, sustentation

and dissolution.

Mahabalah: The strongest among all who have strength.

 

 

Mahabuddir mahaviryo mahasaktir mahadyutih

Anirdesyavapuh shriman ameyatma mahadridhruk ..19

 

 

Mahabuddir: The wisest among the wise.

Mahaviryo: The most powerful one, because Ignorance which is the

cause of Samsara is His great power.

Mahasaktir: One with great resources of strength and skill.

Mahadyutih: One who is intensely brilliant both within and without.

Anirdesyavapuh: One who cannot be indicated to another as: `He is

this', because He cannot be objectively known. Shriman: One endowed

with greatness of every kind.

Ameyatma: The Spirit with intelligence that cannot be measured by any

one.

Mahadridhruk: One who held up the great mountain `Mandara' at the

time of the churning of the Milk Ocean and also Govardhana in his

Krishna incarnation.

 

Maheshvaso mahibharta shrinivasah satam gatih

Aniruddhah suranando govindo govidam patih ..20

 

 

Maheshvaso: One equipped with the great bow.

Mahibharta: One who held up the earth submerged in Pralaya waters.

Shrinivasah: One on whose chest the Goddess Shri, eternal in nature,

dwells.

Satam gatih: One who bestows the highest destiny attainable, to all

holy men.

Aniruddhah: One who has never been obstructed by any one or anything

from manifesting in various forms.

Suranando: One who bestows joy on all divinities.

Govindo: Gau means words. Thou pervadest all words, giving them

power. Therefore sages call the Govinda.

Govindam patih: Gau means words. One who knows them is Govid. He who

is the master of words is indicated by this name.

 

To be continued....